Remains of that reverend and learned divine, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in…Remaines of that reverend and learned divine, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in…

The second rule is this, as in the first place, we must not put off the work of the spirit, so in the ¹second place, we must not make too much haste out of it: you must not think that a little humiliation will serve the turn, a little sorrow, a few tears, or a few sighs; but you must continue in it, and it must remain in you: the contrary unto this, is that sorrow which the Lord reproves in the people of Israel, Isaiah, 8. 6. Is this the fast that I have chosen that men should hang down their heads like a bulrush ²for a day: they were affected with sin, and it wrought some effect in them, but it did not continue, it was but a for a time, it lasted not, and therefore it was that the Lord hated it: you must let sorrow breed in our hearts, you must let it still continue ⟨p. 234⟩with you, or else it will not humble you: the nature of the bulrush is, for a time to hang down the head, when it is over-pressed with water, but when it is dry, then it lifts up it self again; so there are many, that for a time will hang down their heads, and seem to have this true sorrow, but it is but when some judgement is upon them, then they can humble themselves, and cry and weep: but when it is removed, that is, when they are freed from the judgement, they are lifted up, their humiliation is gone, now that you may have this humiliation, to continue with you, you must do as the Apostle exhorts you, James 4. 8. you must purge your hearts: that is, you must purge hypocrisy away that deceives you in the matter of humiliation, and if you ask how you shall keep your hearts humble, he tells you how, Let, saith he, your joy be turned into mourning: that is, keep a taste of sin, and the displeasure of God in your hearts, and this will humble you; therefore you must continue in sorrow: this was that which was commanded the people of Israel, Levit. 16. 29. You shall humble your selves, and do no work at all: ³they must separate themselves from all such works on that day, which may be a means to keep them from humiliation: for the object, being holden long on the faculty, it will at last humble us; for our nature is like the fire if matter be not applied unto it, it will go out, so if we keep not a sense of sin, humiliation, and sorrow in our heart, it will dye.